Question on quotation marks

[Thistlethorn]

I'm working on a scene where a character quotes a passage from a book. The character doesn't quote it verbatim. I know normally the line would have double quotation marks then single quotation marks denoting something be quoted. But since it isn't verbatim, do I still use that set up?

 

[PennLady]

If they're not quoting it exactly, then they're paraphrasing, and I don't believe that warrants quotation marks. You might consider having the character say they're paraphrasing, or that they won't get the quote right, and then you wouldn't need them.

I don't think using them would hurt, but I'm not sure of the rule, if there is one.

 

[sr71plt]

I'm working on a scene where a character quotes a passage from a book. The character doesn't quote it verbatim. I know normally the line would have double quotation marks then single quotation marks denoting something be quoted. But since it isn't verbatim, do I still use that set up?

If it's a paraphrase, it wouldn't be in quotes. It would be helpful to note that it's a paraphrase (e.g., "says something like"). Regardless, it doesn't need to be in quotes, though.

 

[CarlusMagnus]

I'm working on a scene where a character quotes a passage from a book. The character doesn't quote it verbatim. I know normally the line would have double quotation marks then single quotation marks denoting something be quoted. But since it isn't verbatim, do I still use that set up?

If the speaker has delivered it as a direct quotation, I would single-quote it. He/She is mistaken, but I'll indicate his/her intent. Otherwise, I wouldn't do so, and I would have the character give a positive indication that it's a paraphrase.

 

[Thistlethorn]

Thank you all for your assistance. I greatly appreciate it.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

Sometimes when I have a character quoting someone, I use quotes within quotes (quoteception!) But I have the inner quotes made with apostrophes.

 

[sr71plt]

The second level of quotes is the single quote. On the computer (or typewriter), it's the same character as the apostrophe. (The close single quote is automatically turned around by the computer, though, if you have smart quotes turned on.)

 

[estragon]

Again a case of the computer making decisions (sometimes bad decisions) for the writer. If a paraphrase, concur with the previous posters--no quotation marks (single or double). But you should tip off the reader that your speaker is trying to quote, albeit imprecisely.